An interesting paper on Clozapine. Generally I’ve heard from researchers that Clozapine is the “Gold Standard” (i.e. the best) antipsychotic medication out there, if it works for the person.
CONCLUSION:
The present findings suggest that clozapine demonstrates superior antidepressant effects to quetiapine and comparable effects to olanzapine and risperidone in chronic schizophrenia
Source:
S Nakajima, H Takeuchi, G Fervaha, E Plitman, JK Chung, F Caravaggio, Y Iwata, Y Mihashi, P Gerretsen, G Remington, B Mulsant and A Graff-Guerrero,
Schizophrenia research , Feb 2015
The comparative antidepressant effects of clozapine and other atypical antipsychotics for schizophrenia remain elusive, leading us to examine this question using the data from the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness phase 2E.Ninety-nine patients who discontinued treatment with olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, or ziprasidone because of inadequate efficacy were randomly assigned to open-label treatment with clozapine (n=49) or double-blind treatment with another atypical antipsychotic not previously received in the trial (olanzapine [n=19], quetiapine [n=15], or risperidone [n=16]). The primary outcome was the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) total score. Antidepressant effects of clozapine and the other atypical antipsychotics were compared in patients with chronic schizophrenia and those with a major depressive episode (MDE) at baseline (i.e. ≥6 on the CDSS), using mixed models.No differences in the baseline CDSS total scores were found between the treatment groups regardless of presence of an MDE. Clozapine was more effective than quetiapine in antidepressant effects for chronic schizophrenia (p<.01 for the whole sample and p=.01 for those with an MDE), and comparable to olanzapine and risperidone.The present findings suggest that clozapine demonstrates superior antidepressant effects to quetiapine and comparable effects to olanzapine and risperidone in chronic schizophrenia regardless of presence of MDE. Given the indication of clozapine for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) and the negative impacts of depressive symptoms on clinical outcomes in schizophrenia, further research is warranted to investigate antidepressant effects of clozapine in TRS with an MDE.
More information about Clozapine:
Clozapine, sold under the brand name Clozaril among others, is an atypical antipsychotic medication. It is mainly used for schizophrenia that does not improve following the use of other antipsychotic medications. In those with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder it may decrease the rate of suicidal behavior. It is more effective than typical antipsychotics and effective for those who are treatment resistant. It is taken by mouth. Clozapine is associated with a relatively high risk of low w...
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It worked really well for me except for the part where it totalled my immune system (which is rare, but happens). Do NOT skip blood tests if you are on Clozaril!
10-96
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how awful for you pixel. is it healed by now or do you still suffer from this?
judy
I would have to say that of all, and there has been a lot, the AP’s my son has been on that Clozapine/Clozaril worked the best.
Skims
January 5, 2015, 3:13pm
5
I’m trying to think back to when I was on Clozapine last year. I was only on it for 5-6 months. I can’t say that it really did anything for me other than give me a ton of side effects. I probably wasn’t on it long enough to give it a real try.